The Greek poet Homer is credited with creating the
Iliad.
Some scholars, however, doubt that Homer ever existed and suggest that
the poem was woven together by generations of storytellers. In any case,
the
Iliad
had a tremendous impact on Greek culture and holds an important place in
world literature.

Background of the Trojan War.
Long before the events described in the
Iliad,
the Greeks had been drawn into a war with Troy because of the beautiful
Helen of Troy Helen was actually Greek, the wife of King Menelaus of
Sparta*. She lived happily with Menelaus until Prince Paris of
Troy—promised the most beautiful woman in the world by the goddess
Aphrodite*—came to Greece in search of the famous beauty. Paris
took Helen back to Troy. Honoring a pledge to Menelaus, the kings and
princes of Greece joined together to rescue Helen and set sail for Troy
with their armies to wage war.

The war between the Greeks and the Trojans dragged on for nine years, with
neither side gaining a decisive advantage. Involved in the background were
the major Greek gods and goddesses, who supported or opposed certain of
the humans in the struggle. In the tenth year of the war, events came to a
head, leading ultimately to victory for the Greeks and the destruction of
Troy, outcomes
predetermined
by the gods.

The Story of the Iliad.
As the
Iliad
opens, a dispute between two Greek leaders—the hero Achilles* and
King Agamemnon* of Mycenae, commander of the Greek armies—sets in
motion events that shape the course of the war. The trouble begins when
Agamemnon receives a young woman, the daughter of a priest of Apollo*, as
a prize of war. The priest appeals to Apollo, who sends a plague to the
Greek camp. When the Greeks learn the cause of the sickness, they force
Agamemnon to give up his prize.

To make up for his loss, Agamemnon demands the woman who was awarded to
Achilles. Furious, Achilles puts down his weapons and refuses to fight any
longer, thus depriving the Greeks of their most formidable warrior.
Meanwhile, the sea goddess Thetis, Achilles' mother, persuades Zeus* to
let the Greeks suffer losses in combat to show how crucial her son is to
their victory.

Without Achilles, the Greeks begin to lose ground to the Trojans. During
the course of battle, Paris and Menelaus fight each other, but neither can
claim victory At one point, Hector, leader of the Trojan forces, leaves
the battlefield and enters Troy. Telling the Trojan women to pray for help
from the gods, he bids farewell to his wife, Andromache, and his young
son. He knows that he will die soon and that the Greeks will destroy the
city and its people.

After suffering significant losses, several Greek leaders, including
Odysseus*, go to Achilles and ask him to rejoin them. Even Agamemnon sends
a number of gifts and promises to reward

epic
long poem about legendary or historical heroes, written in a grand
style

predetermined
decided in advance

Paris played a minor role in the Trojan War. As a warrior he was less
skilled than his brother Hector, and his cowardly nature won him
little respect. This painting shows Hector forcing Paris to fight a
battle.

Achilles when the war is over. But Achilles refuses to reconsider his
decision.

Soon after, Achilles' beloved friend Patroclus convinces the hero to let
him wear his armor so that the Trojans will think that Achilles is
fighting again. The sight of the warrior in Achilles' armor worries the
Trojans, and the Greeks are able to push them back. But the god Apollo
lets Hector see that another warrior is wearing Achilles' armor, and
Hector kills Patroclus and takes the armor.

When Achilles learns that his beloved friend has been killed, he is
overwhelmed with grief and determined to avenge his friend's death.
Wearing new armor from his mother, Achilles reenters the battle and
slaughters many Trojans while searching for Hector. When the two warriors
finally meet, Hector flees and Achilles chases him around the walls of
Troy.

The goddess Athena* tricks Hector by appearing as his younger brother and
telling him to stand and fight. When Hector does so, Achilles kills him.
Achilles removes his old armor from Hector's body and then drags the
corpse behind his chariot.

Meanwhile the Trojans, angry because Achilles will not return Hector's
corpse for proper funeral ceremonies, mourn the death of their hero. Again
the gods intervene, forcing Achilles to accept a ransom of gifts from
Hector's father, King Priam, and return the body of his son.

*
See
Names and Places
at the end of this volume for further information.

The story in the
Iliad
ends as the Trojans hold a funeral for their fallen hero. But the Trojan
War continues. Tales of the deaths of Paris and Achilles, the Greek's
cunning use of the Trojan horse to get inside the city walls, and the
defeat and destruction of Troy are told in other works.

Significance of the Iliad.
The
Iliad
is more than just a story about ancient heroes, gods, and goddesses. For
the Greeks of later centuries, the poem was a history of their ancestors
that also revealed moral lessons about heroism, pride, revenge, and honor.
As such, it also had great value as a symbol of Greek unity and culture.

Modern scholars believe that certain elements of the story in the
Iliad
may be based on historical events from more than 3,000 years ago. Almost
certainly, the poem reflects the values and ideals of Greek society at
that time. Perhaps more importantly, as a work of literature, the
Iliad
illustrates various universal themes and provides a realistic view of the
human condition. Its major characters, though shrouded in the distant
past, exhibit personality flaws and strengths that are as real for people
today as when the work first appeared.